At a time when the international communityis struggling to generate more jobs, especially for young people,United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday urgedGovernments to invest more in youth employment initiatives and promote decent work for all.

"I believe employment and decent work, particularly for young people, are the backbone of development," Mr. Ban said in his remarks to the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.

"Yet we are facing a great test of our time - an epidemic of youthunemployment," he added.

Mr. Ban noted that half of the world's young people in the labourforce are either working poor or unemployed. The global youthunemployment situation is intolerable, particularly for young women.

"In countries rich and poor, unemployment rates for young people aremany times those of adults - and, of course, joblessness is the tip of the iceberg," he stated. "Many are stuck in low-wage work with noprotection in the informal economy. Many others find that theirschooling has not equipped them with the right tools for today's jobmarket."

Half the world, said Mr. Ban, is under 25 years of age - nearly 90 per cent of them in developing countries. "These young people represent an enormous resource for innovation and development," he stated.

"I have seen it again and again in my travels around the world - from social entrepreneurs developing smart,new business models ... to young people creating green jobs and more sustainable economies ... to youth leaders speaking out, and tweeting out, for change."

In tackling the epidemic of global youth unemployment, theSecretary-General called on governments to invest more in youthemployment initiatives and promote decent work.

He also urged trade unions, employers' organizations and the privatesector at large to empower more youth in their own structures andengage with youth-led organizations, noting that the private sector iskey to job creation and that trade unions have a fundamental role inpromoting and protecting young workers' rights.

Turning to young people, he stated: "You are the largest youthgeneration the world has ever known. You are already active in yourorganizations and as part of governments, trade unions and the private sector.

"I count on your energy, your leadership and creativity, to realizechange and sustainable development. The United Nations wants topartner with you. Decent jobs for youth are essential to the future we want. Let us work for a world where nobody is left behind, whereeverybody can have a decent work. And let us work for a better worldfor all."

While in Geneva today, Mr. Ban met with Nabil Elaraby,Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. They discussed theSyria crisis, including the priorities of humanitarian access andbringing the fighting to a halt, as well as the current search for asuccessor to Lakhdar Brahimi, the former joint Special Representative on the crisis.

They also exchanged views on the current state of the Middle Eastpeace process, as well as on the ongoing crises in Iraq, Libya andSomalia, according to a read-out of the meeting.